On Friday, December 30, 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo, congratulated the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Chairman and CEO, Thomas Prendergast for meeting the deadline of completing the Second Avenue Subway at the 86th Street Subway station. Gov. Cuomo said, “People didn’t believe the government could do it. This is New York – the best state in the nation. New Yorkers make it happen; the biggest and the tallest. We did this the old-fashioned way, by having blacks, whites, brown, and gay New Yorkers, the best workforce of ‘organized labor’ in the world, give NY a beautiful gift.” The audience erupted with cheers. Cuomo continued praising the magnificent architecture and art throughout the subway. “There is openness. There are no columns downstairs. And throughout the subway, a child will be exposed to public art.”

Chairman Prendergast heaped praise on the artist, Chuck Close: “Subway Portraits” and continued by saying, :Thousands of men and women, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worked using boring machines, completing 60 feet a day.”

Governor Cuomo stressed, “This a remarkable New York story. No one believed it could be done. The concept was conceived 100 years ago. So, in the 1940’s the overhead elevated trains were removed on Second and Third Avenues leaving only the 4, 5 and 6 trains to transport Eastsiders. After decades, no one believed it could be done. The residents and shop owners have suffered terribly. But, today, is the day it is worth it.”

Chairman Prendergast, Gov. Cuomo, Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer, Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and Council Member Ben Kallos helped cut the ribbon during the ceremony, signifying the opening of the subway. The official ride is scheduled to take place on January 1, 2017. Souvenirs of hats, bags and printed mementos were distributed to the residents during the tour.